- “Do not go beyond what is written. (1Cor 4:6, NIV)" Seems to teach that Christians shouldn’t go beyond the written word of God. My Protestant friends quote this verse often and I don’t know how to interpret it.
Here’s the verses before and after 1Cor 4:6 so you can see the context. It appears Paul is quoting a saying that he heard from somewhere (I couldn’t find it in the OT or anywhere else in the Bible):
1Cor 4:1-7 (NIV):
“So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
6 Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “
Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. 7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?”
I appreciate all the helpful responses that seem to refute my interpretation of these verses.
What I’d like to know now is how these two verses (2Tim 3:15 and 1Cor 4:6) should be interpreted.What is the meaning of "the holy Scriptures are able to make you wise for salvation"
JL: The footnote in the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible says, “Paul cautions believers to stay within the limits of personal humility defined by the Scriptures.” Referring to OT warnings about boasting quoted in 1Cor1:19, I will destroy, Is29:14. 1Cor1:31, Let him who boasts, paraphrase of the Greek version of Jer9:24. 1Cor3:19-20, Job5:13.
My opinion, Paul calls, “Do not go beyond what is written”, a SAYING. The saying itself would appear to have been an oral Tradition outside scripture. If so to interpret it in support of sola scriptura would contradict scripture. Because Paul went beyond what was written. The burden of proof would be on those who say it teaches sola scriptura. They must show, that saying, “Do not go beyond what is written”, is in scripture before Paul wrote it in scripture. Otherwise they are making a tradition of men a doctrine contrary to scripture.
Even if taken literally oral Tradition is not going beyond the written word as the written word clearly tells us to hold oral Tradition.
The Church RECEIVED her beliefs from the Word of God, handed down by the Apostles, whether by WORD (Oral Apostolic Tradition) or EPISTLE (Scripture), 2 THES 2:14. The Church was orally teaching, preaching, converting and faithfully passing on that Apostolic Tradition about twenty years before the first word of the NT was written. Except for John all the apostles were dead before the NT was completely written and centuries before a set canon of books.
The Scriptures tell us to HOLD FAST to BOTH, oral AND written, Traditions.
[2 THES 2:14 Whereunto he called you by **OUR GOSPEL, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren,
stand fast, and
HOLD the TRADITIONS which ye have been
TAUGHT, whether BY word, OR our epistle.]
Yet many ignore their proclaimed only authority, inventing a tradition of men, to nullify scripture. Going outside scripture saying, ALL Oral Tradition is now in scripture. Even though scripture clearly says we are to hold BOTH. There isn’t any scripture telling us Oral Traditions are ALL now in the written Word. But there are several that tell us to hold Tradition. The burden of proof would be on those who claim ALL Tradition is in scripture. Both are the Word of God.
[1Thes2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when **ye RECEIVED the WORD OF GOD which ye
HEARD of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is
IN TRUTH, the WORD OF GOD, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.]
[1Tim6: Timothy, **KEEP THAT WHICH IS COMMITTED TO THY TRUST, avoiding profane and vain babblings,]
Philip4:9
THOSE THINGS, which
YE HAVE both
LEARNED, and
RECEIVED, and
HEARD, and
SEEN IN ME, DO
Jn14: 26: But the Comforter, which is
THE HOLY GHOST, whom the Father will send in my name, he
SHALL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS, and bring all things to your remembrance,
WHATSOEVER I have
SAID UNTO YOU.
2Tim2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And
THE THINGS that
THOU HAST HEARD OF ME among many witnesses,
THE SAME COMMIT thou
TO FAITHFUL MEN, who shall be **ABLE TO TEACH OTHERS **also.
2Tim1:13
HOLD FAST the form of
SOUND WORDS, which thou hast
HEARD OF ME, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 14
THAT GOOD THING which was
COMMITTED unto thee
KEEP BY THE HOLY GHOST which dwelleth
IN US.
[2Thes3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye **WITHDRAW yourselves FROM EVERY BROTHER THAT WALKETH disorderly, and NOT AFTER THE TRADITION which he RECEIVED OF US.]
[2THES 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye **withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and
not after the TRADITION which he received of US.] It seems Tradition is of such importance that one who does not follow them are to be shunned. Sounds like, [Mt18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, **TELL IT UNTO THE CHURCH: but IF HE NEGLECT TO HEAR THE CHURCH, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.]
Oral Divine or Apostolic Traditions are discerned by the Church with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Oral and Written Traditions cannot be contradictory. Oral Traditions are found in the constant lived out life of the Church. It is discerned from teachings of councils, popes, writings of the Fathers, creeds, prayers, liturgy, etc…
There are traditions of men and Divine Tradition. Divine Traditions are those Traditions handed on by the apostles whether by word (oral) or epistle (scripture) 2Thes2:15. There are also traditions of men. Christ didn’t even condemn traditions of men EXCEPT when those traditions of men nullify the Word. [Mk7:13 **Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.]
Examples of traditions of men, made a doctrine, to nullify the Word, would be. Faith alone saves, born again the minute one believes, baptism profession only, belivers only baptism, sola scriptura, scripture interprets scripture, all oral Apostolic Tradition now in scripture, OSAS, invisible church, irresistible grace, dispensationalism, secret rapture. None of those are taught in the Bible they actually contradict it.
A doctrine taught by the apostles orally would be the
canon of the bible, The evidence is found in the lived out Traditions of the Church and those books agreement with that Tradition. Another,
infant baptism, the evidence is found in the scriptures, where it is implied, and the constant lived out Tradition of the Church. Others would be
the Trinity. The evidence is found in the scriptures, where it is implied, and the lived out Tradition of the Church as discerned and defined by Councils or the Pope.
The mode of baptism by immersion is not taught in the bible. It is only known thru the lived out Tradition of the early Church. When the Lord’s prayer is concluded with; for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory now and forever. That is an oral Tradition coming from the liturgy (worship service) being said after the Lord’s Prayer.
I read on this website Catholics who are well catechised to the teaching of the Catholic church. How do you define conservative?